This review discussed the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Malaysia and the associated major risk factors, namely overweight/obesity, dietary practices and physical activity in both adults and school children. Detailed analyses of such information will provide crucial information for the formulation and implementation of programmes for the control and prevention of T2DM in the country. National studies from 1996-2015, and other recent nation-wide studies were referred to. The current prevalence of DM in 2015 is 17.5%, over double since 1996. Females, older age group, Indians, and urban residents had the highest risk of DM. The combined prevalence of overweight/obesity in 2015 is 47.7% for adults. Adults did not achieve the recommended intakes for majority of the foods groups in the Malaysian Food Pyramid especially fruits and vegetables. Adults also had moderate physical activity level. Three nation-wide studies showed a prevalence ranging from 27 to 31% for combined overweight/obesity in school children. The prevalence was higher among boys, primary school age, Indian ethnicity, and even rural children are not spared. Physical activity level was also low among school children. There must be serious systematic implementation of action plans to combat the high prevalence of diabetes and associated risk factors.
Gene-environment (G × E) interactions involving job stress and mental health on risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are minimally explored. This study examined the association and G × E interaction effects of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) gene polymorphisms (rs1870377, rs2071559) on cardiometabolic risk in Chinese Malaysian adults. Questionnaires: Job Stress Scale (JSS); Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21); and Rhode Island Stress and Coping Inventory (RISCI) were used to measure job stress, mental health, and coping with perceived stress. Cardiometabolic risk parameters were evaluated in plasma and genotyping analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The subjects were 127 Chinese Malaysian adults. The allele frequencies for rs1870377 (A allele and T allele) and rs2071557 (A allele and T allele) polymorphisms were 0.48 and 0.52, and 0.37 and 0.63, respectively. Significant correlations include scores from JSS dimensions with blood glucose (BG) (p = 0.025-0.045), DASS-21 dimensions with blood pressure, BMI, and uric acid (p = 0.029-0.047), and RISCI with blood pressure and BG (p = 0.016-0.049). Significant G × E interactions were obtained for: rs1870377 with stress on total cholesterol (p = 0.035), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.019), and apolipoprotein B100 (p = 0.004); and rs2071559 with anxiety on blood pressure (p = 0.006-0.045). The significant G × E interactions prompt actions for managing stress and anxiety for the prevention of CVD.
Involving school-age children in the preparation of healthy meals is shown to be associated with positive eating behavior. Yet, it remains unclear whether this can extend to their nutritional status. The present study aimed to determine the association of school-age children's psychosocial factors (knowledge, attitude, practice, self-efficacy) towards healthy meal preparation with their nutritional status (BMI-for-age, waist circumference, body fat percentage). Stratified random sampling was used to select primary schools (n = 8) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Two hundred school children aged between 9-11 years old were involved. Psychosocial factors towards healthy meal preparation were assessed using validated questionnaire. Anthropometry measures were determined using standard protocol. Almost half (46 %) of the school-age children were obese/overweight, 39 % were abdominally obese and 40 % were overfat. Approximately half had poor knowledge (49 %), poor practice (45 %), good attitude (56 %) and good self-efficacy (47 %) towards healthy meal preparation. Significant positive correlations were observed between knowledge with attitude (r = 0.23, p
The involvement of children in healthy meal preparation activities has emerged as a potential strategy to promote healthy eating behaviour among children. However, there is a lack of understanding of children's internal (psychosocial factors) and external factors (home food availability) that may support the practice of preparing healthy meals. This study aimed to determine children's psychosocial factors of healthy meal preparation within themselves and their external environment of home food availability as predictors for the practice of healthy meal preparation. Public schools (n = 8) from all three zones (Bangsar-Pudu, Keramat and Sentul) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were selected through stratified random sampling. Two hundred children aged 9-11 and their parents participated. Children's psychosocial factors towards healthy meal preparation and their home food availability were assessed through children and parents, respectively, using validated questionnaires. Majority of the schoolchildren (86.5%) had poor practice of healthy meal preparation. Increased attitude (r = 0.344, P < 0.001) and self-efficacy (r = 0.501, P < 0.001) of healthy meal preparation and the availability of fruits (r = 0.304, P < 0.001), vegetables (r = 0.243, P < 0.001) and healthful ready-to-eat foods (r = 0.227, P = 0.001) at home were positively correlated with the practice of preparing healthy meals. After adjusting for age, sex and monthly household income, increased self-efficacy (P < 0.001), availability of fruits (P = 0.01) and lower availability of less healthful ready-to-eat food (P = 0.01) were associated with better healthy meal preparation practices. Outcomes revealed that positive self-efficacy of healthy meal preparation, home food availability of fruits and less healthful alternatives were associated with the practice of healthy meal preparation and thus should be targeted in future health-promotion strategy.